Most headaches are primary headaches, meaning the pain itself is the condition, and the two most common types are tension-type headache and migraine.
Tension-type headache usually feels like steady pressure or a tight band on both sides of the head, and it is often linked to stress, jaw clenching, neck strain, or long hours at a screen. Migraine tends to be one-sided and throbbing, and it can come with nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light and sound. Common triggers include missed sleep, dehydration, skipped meals, alcohol, caffeine changes, hormonal shifts, and weather changes. Taking pain relievers more than about two or three days a week can lead to medication overuse headache, where treatment starts driving the pain. A smaller group of headaches are secondary, caused by something else such as a sinus infection, a viral illness, a concussion, or a medication side effect.
How to prevent your headaches
Common questions
what causes headaches
Headaches are usually primary, meaning no underlying disease is causing them. Tension-type headache brings steady pressure on both sides and is tied to stress, neck and jaw tension, and screen time. Migraine is often one-sided and throbbing with nausea or light sensitivity. Frequent triggers are short sleep, dehydration, skipped meals, alcohol, caffeine withdrawal, and hormonal changes. Using pain relievers more than two or three days a week can create medication overuse headache. Secondary headaches come from another cause, such as infection, head injury, or a new medication. Get urgent care for a sudden severe headache, one with fever and stiff neck, weakness, confusion, or vision loss, or a headache after a head injury.